Abstract
The historical background of the postmodern view on normativity and on a Christian worldview Usually the criticism of Christian thinkers on postmodernism includes the notion that its representatives are normative relativists and that they furthermore do not apply relativism to their own viewpoint. Postmodernists in turn regard a Christian worldview as absolutist – a legalistic, exclusivist, marginalising and oppressive ideology. This article intends to make a small contribution to this debate. As an introduction a brief characteristic of the contemporary postmodern spirit is provided. It is indicated that the spirit of a period is determined by its conception of normativity or its idea of lawfulness. This is followed by a historical survey to trace the road which subjectivist Western thought about normativity had travelled until it reached radical relativism in postmodernism. The question is then asked whether postmodernism can really maintain its historistic relativism. As an alternative to such a viewpoint a Reformational worldview suggests the stability of God’s creational ordinances. At the same time the postmodern warning that worldviews can be or become legalistic, oppressive ideologies should be taken seriously. Specific trends that may endanger a Christian worldview are therefore identified. In conclusion it is indicated how, through a careful listening to God’s Word, these threads can be counteracted.
Highlights
Gewoonlik sluit die kritiek van Christelike denkers op die postmodernisme in dat die verteenwoordigers van hierdie stroming in normatiewe relativisme verval, maar dit nie konsekwent op hulle eie visie wil toepas nie
Daar sal dus ondersoek word tot hoe ’n mate ’n Christelike lewensvisie ook aan sulke gevare van verideologisering blootgestel is en hoe sulke bedreigings die hoof gebied kan word
A denial of the reality of a unified world as the object of our perception is at the heart of postmodernism.”
Summary
In hierdie besinning word gepoog om iets van die hedendaagse lewensvisie en tydsgees te verstaan en dit vanuit ’n Christelike oortuigingsraamwerk te beproef (1 Joh. 4:1). Byvoorbeeld 3 hieronder), terwyl die hedendaagse relatiwistiese tendens tog ook radikaler is as vroeër. Die ondersoek wat in hierdie artikel weergegee word, is meer lewensbeskoulik (dit wil sê voorwetenskaplik) as filosofies. Dit wil die lewensbeskoulike wortels van die postmodernisme ontbloot en iets probeer verstaan van die hedendaagse tydsgees of lewensgevoel wat daaruit gebore word. Hoewel ’n mens lewensvisie en filosofie nie kan skei nie, kan hulle tog onderskei word Nürnberger (2007:11) onderskei byvoorbeeld tussen postmoderniteit (die huidige lewensgevoel en kultuur) en postmodernisme (die filosofiese stroming). Hoewel hierdie woorde as sinonieme afwisselend gebruik gaan word, moet in gedagte gehou word dat dié artikel primêr oor die lewensbeskoulike aspekte handel
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